​The Ministry of Health (MoH) has put utmost emphasis on patient confidentiality, particularly for those dealing with mental health issues, said Minister of Health Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during the 20th session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting yesterday.

The minister was responding to a query from LegCo member Yang Berhormat Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Momin on measures that have been taken to ensure the confidentiality of patients with mental illnesses as they work in establishing normalcy in their daily lives.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also underlined that patients’ medical records can only be accessed by those directly involved in treatment care, such as doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, adding that the only access granted to those outside of the treatment team is the viewing of basic information such as appointment schedules, diagnoses and prescriptions.

For external agencies “to gain access to the psychiatric record, a letter of consent must first be obtained from the patient”, the minister added.

He also highlighted that Bru-HIMS system, which has the capability of tracking access to diagnostic information, and said “any unauthorised or repeated access would prompt further inquiry by the ministry to ascertain the reason behind the action”.

(News & pic source: Borneo Bulletin)